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LIB. V. OF THE ANCIENT LATINE HISTORIANS.

Qu. WHich are the most emi∣nent of the Ancient La∣tin Historians?

Ans. Julius Caesar, Salust, Livy, Paterculus, Valerius Maximus, Quin∣tus Curtius, Tacitus, Florus, Suetoni∣us, Justin, and Marcelinus.

Qu. What account have you of Ju∣lius Caesar?

Ans. Cajus Julius Caesar (de∣scended from the Noble Julian Fa∣mily) was the first Founder of the Roman Empire; yet no less emi∣nent

for his Commentaries, than his Conquests: Using his Pen with the same Vigour, as he us'd his Sword; in so much, that, as Quintilian ob∣serves, he was the only Roman, who for Eloquence might have been op∣posed to Cicero: And who, as Gy∣raldus saith) did alone overcome all others both in Writing and Fight∣ing. In his tender years he addicted himself to Poetry, and Compos'd the Tragedy of Oedipus, the Praise of Hercules, and several other Poems under the Title of Julii, which Au∣gustus afterwards prohibited to be publish'd. Neither was he less fa∣mous for his Skill in Oratory, wit∣ness his Funeral Orations on his Wife Cornelia, and Aunt Julia, his Accusation of Dolabella, his Invectives against Cato, and his Orations for the Bythinian Law Plautia, for Decius the Samnite, for Sextilius and others, Likewise his two Books of Analogy gave him

great repute among the Gramma∣rians. Besides which, he wrote se∣veral other Tracts of Augurie, and witty Apothegms; as well as of the motion of the Stares, which he had Learnt in Egypt, and wherein he Prognosticated his own Death, on the Ides of March, as the Elder Pliny relates; nor is he less eminent for his Reformation of the Kalen∣der. But what surpassed all his other Writings, were his seven Books of Commentaries, describing nothing but his own Actions, and things that he himself had seen. Asinius Pollio, (that carping Critick) accuses him (as Suetonius saith) for suer∣ving from the Truth in many Re∣lations about himself, and that he differs extreamly from the account which Dion, Plutarch and other Authors give of the same Actions; as also, that he reports many things unjustly to the Defamation of the Ancient Gauls: But these Cen∣sures

are only conjectural. As for the excellency of his Stile, 'tis so Easie, Natural and Eloquent, that his Latin has ever been compar'd to Xenophon's Greek, as well as his other Characters. The eight Book of his Commentaries was written by Hirtius. Caesars Writings, though adorn'd with some Orations, are destitute of many Rhetorical Orna∣ments, wherewith he could have beautified them; in so much, that Ci∣cero esteems his Commentaries to be nothing but short Notes prepared by Caesar in order to a more com∣pleat History, had not his untimely Murder prevented him.

Qu. What account have you of Sa∣lust?

Ans. Crispus Salustius, or, as o∣thers call him, Sallustius, was born at Amiternum in the Sabines Terri∣tory, the third year of the 173^d. Olympiad, which was the same year that Sylla's Souldiers took and

Sack'd Athens; for he was Elder than Caesar, though he out-liv'd him seven years, Salust was first Educated in Rome, spending his youth in Ingenious Studies, so as to be preferr'd to many considerable Offices in the Government: as, Se∣nator, Tribune, Treasurer, and Prae∣tour in Africk by the favour of Ju∣lius Caesar, in which last Office, by his Extortions, he grew so vastly Rich, as to purchase the Village Ti∣burte, and his Country-house at Ti∣voli, as well as the chief Houses on Mount Quirinal in Rome, together with those spacious Gardens, called (at this day) The Gardens of Salust. He was descended from the Noble Salustian Family; and Educated un∣der his Tutor Attejus Praetextatus Philologus. Of his Works, Catalin's Conspiracy, and the Jugurthine War, are the two chief, that are extant; Besides which, he wrote the History of Rome from its foundation, with

a particular Narration of Marius and Sylla, as also the Atchievments of Pompey in the Mithridatick War, of all which, we have only some few Fragments remain; but for the true delivery of his Punick History, he was so Zealous, that he Travail'd into Africa on purpose, to be the better inform'd. His Stile, in imita∣tion of Thucydides, whom Quintili∣an compares him to,) is Concise, Short, and Pithy. Of the Ancients, as well as Tacitus, and Seneca, as St. Austin did highly esteem Salust; and of the modern Criticks, Lip∣sius, Turnebus and Scaliger prefer him to Caesar or Livy. Nevertheless, Asinius Pollio, Livy and others ac∣cuse him for inventing new words, as well as for the using obsolete ones; and for too much obscure brevity in his expressions, wherein Tacitus imitates him. He is likewise censur'd for stealing out of Thucy∣cides and Cato many Select Senten∣ces,

and for the too often repetition of the same words; as well as for inserting many inessential things in∣to his History, more especially his two Prefaces before Catalin's Con∣spiracy, and the Jugurthine War, which relate not at all to the fol∣lowing subjects: But the first a ge∣neral Harangue against Idleness; and the second an Invective against those whom Debauchery diverted from their Employs. Yet that, for the which he was the most condem∣ned, is his own extravagant Life, so much contrary to his Writings: When, not being satisfied with his own Wife Terentia, whom he mar∣ried after her Divorce from Cicero, he was taken in Adultery with Fausta, Lucius Sylla's Daughter; for the which he was not only ex∣pell'd the Senate, but condemn'd also to be Whipt by Milo, and fain to buy off that punishment with Money. Finally, his Orations dis∣cover

both his amity to Caesar, and enmity to Cicero. Notwithstanding some question, whether these two address'd to Caesar, were Salusts or no. But most certain it is, that that one Oration which Cicero a∣scribes to Salust is counterfeit, and none of his, it being in no wise Historical. The most considerable of his Friends were, Julius Caesar, Cornelius Nepos, Messala, and Ni∣gidius Figulus.

Qu. What account have you of Livy?

Ans. Titus Livius Patavinus, was born at Padua, and flourish'd chiefly under Augustus and Tiberius. He be∣gan to write after Augustus's Tri∣umph for the War at Actium, and finished his History in the beginning of Tiberius's reign. He wrote (as Seneca tells us, many Philosophical Dialogues before he came to Rome, the which he dedicated to Augustus Caesar, whereby he procured his

Favour. And Quintinian informs us, that in a Letter to his Son, he deliver'd many excellent Precepts of Rhetorick; but his chief Piece is his History, which contain'd 142 Books, or (as some say) but 140. beginning with the Foundation of Rome by Romulus, and extending for the space of 746 years, to the German War, mannag'd by Drusus. who lost his Life in that Expedition. This History was not divided into Decades (as now we find it,) by Livy himself, but by others since his time. And of the 140, or 142 Books which he wrote, there re∣main at present not above 35. nei∣ther are those altogether entire: For that the whole second Decade is wanting; also we have but the first, third and fourth, with half of the fifth, which was found at Wormes, by one Symon Gryneus. Likewise the beginning of the fourty third Book has been lately recover'd by a

Manuscript in the Chapter of Bam∣berg. But for the remaining four∣teen Decades, we must rest con∣tented with the Epitomy of Florus, who, as some vainly fancy, was the occasion of the loss of the whole. His Stile, notwithstanding Asinius Pollio blames it for its Patavinity, or Paduan Dialect, (where he writes sibe for sibi, and quase for quasi, as we now pronounce it;) is yet extoll'd by Quintilian, as most Eloquent, and his History equall'd to Herodotus. Also, however the Emperour Caligula accuses him of Verbosity, yet the same Prince was no less an enemy to Homer, Virgil, Seneca, and all Ingenious men. It is true, that Augustus blamed Livy for too much favouring Pompey's party against Caesar, but yet he with∣drew not his favor from him, as per∣ceiving it his Countries cause, who were all of the Pompejan Faction. Again, Trogus Pompejus (as Justin

informs us) accuses Livy's Orations, as too direct and long, which cen∣sure might happily, arise out of Jealousy betwixt two Historians of the same Age and Subject. And for what Mascardi blames him, of be∣ginning his History with part of an Hexameter Verse, 'tis frivolous, since there is no Prose without something of the like nature occuring. Se∣neca more justly accuses him of en∣vy to Salust, in preferring Thucydi∣des so much above him; but yet Seneca terms him the most Eloquent. Finally, the Aspersion which can with most difficulty be wip'd off from Livy, is that, for the which Gregory the Great prohibited him to be kept in any Christian Library, and which Causabon mentions in his Preface to Polybius, viz. his noto∣rious Credulity in the Pagan Su∣perstition, where he fills his Histo∣ry with Prodigies; as, of an Oxes Speaking; a Mules Engendring,

the Metamorphosis of Men, Wo∣men and other Creatures; showres of Flint-stones, Milk, Blood, Flesh and Chalk; the Statues of Gods Weeping, Speaking, and shedding Tears of Blood, Armies engaging in the Air, and Ghosts appearing; together with Lakes and Rivers of Blood: All which nevertheless he represents only as the fond opini∣ons of others, and not to be cre∣dited.

Last of all, Gruterus entitles him the Prince of Latine History, Bar∣thius, the Patavinian Syren, and Lipsius, the most Plentiful of Hi∣storians, wherein (as he observes) we meet with things too good for us. He died in the fourth year of Tiberius. He was chosen by the Senate to be Tutor to the Empe∣rour Claudius in his youth. And (as Pliny the younger tells us) One travelled to Rome from the remotest parts of Spain, only to have a sight of Livy.

Qu. What account have you of Vellejus Paterculus?

Ans. Vellejus Paterculus (descen∣ded from the Ancient War-like Princes of Campaigne) was at first a Military Tribune in France, then Praefect of Horses in Germany, after∣wards Quaestor, and last of all Tibe∣rius's Legate in the Pannonian War; as he himself informs us. About the 16th. year of Tiberius he composed his Epitomy of Roman History in two Books, whereof the beginning of the first is lost. He pretends to begin only with the Foundation of Rome, nevertheless, as appears by the remains of his first Book, He treats of things far more Anci∣ent, and so comes down to his own time, the 16th. year of Tiberius, which was the 32d. year after the Birth of Christ. Vossius, Lipsius and others extol the Elegancy of his Stile, and allow him to have given us a Judicious account of

some things which are not else∣where to be met with. Neverthe∣less, he is condemned for too much flattering the House of Augustus, as well as for parasitically applau∣ding even the Extravagancies of Tiberius and his Evil Councellor Sejanus, whom he magnifies for the most Vertuous of men. But, to conclude, his greatest Excellency is his Eloquence, which appears chiefly in his Invectives and Enco∣miums, as where he traduces Mark Anthony, and extols Cicero. Some attribute this Author another Frag∣ment of the defeat of the Roman Legion by the Grisons, the which Vossius, Velserus, and other Lear∣ned Criticks have demonstrated to be a counterfeit.

Qu. What account have you of Valerius Maximus?

Ans. Valerius Maximus, a Ro∣man Citizen of a Noble Patrician Family, derived his Pedegree from

the Valerian Family by his Fathers side, and from the Fabians by his Mother. In his youth he was ini∣tiated in Learning, but coming to be of Age, he served for some time in the Wars, and Sailed with Sex∣tus Pompejus into Asia: From whence, being returned to Rome, he published in nine Books his va∣rious History, or rather Miscellani∣ous collection of memorable Deeds and Sayings that had occurred a∣mong the Romans; the which he wrote at the latter end of Tiberius his reign, and after the disgrace of Sejanus, which makes him so boldly traduce that Favourite, whom Pa∣terculus was obliged to flatter, as writing in the time of his Prospe∣rity. Finally, he is condemn'd for the obscurity and unpoliteness of Stile.

Qu. What account have you of Quintus Curtius?

Ans. Quintus Curtius Rufus, though born (as most think) in the Reign of Tiberius, yet, living to a great Age, flourished chiefly under Vespasian: And was the same Cur∣tius whom Suetonius makes in his younger days to teach Rhetorick un∣der Tiberius; as also the same, to whom (as the younger Pliny re∣ports,) a Phantasme appear'd in Africa. He wrote the Life and Ex∣pliots of Alexander the Great in ten Books; whereof, the two first, and end of the fifth are lost, as also the beginning of the sixth; and in some parts of his tenth or last Book, there appears a defect: Neverthe∣less, Christopher Bruno has supplyed the two first Books out of Arrianus, Justin and Diodorus. As for the Censures that pass upon him, Gla∣rian, Mascardi and others condemn him for an ill Geographer, in ma∣king the River Ganges run from the South, and confounding Mount

Taurus with Caucasus, as also mista∣king the Jaxartes of Pliny for the River Tanais: Likewise for too much abounding in Sentences, and making persons speak improper to the Characters they bear, as in the Oration of the Scythians to Alex∣ander, in his seventh Book. But all these accusations are frivolous and groundless, in comparison of that which is urged against him, for vindicating the Brutish and Unna∣tural Lust of Alexander to the Eunuch Bagoas, which Curtius justi∣fies as Lawful. Nevertheless, he is as much esteem'd of among the Cri∣ticks, as any of the Latine Histori∣ans, both for sincerity and Judge∣ment, and Eloquence. Lipsius pre∣fers him before all others for the perusal of Princes. Vossius saith, He is more Elegant, than Perspicuous; yet allows his Words to be Choice, his Sentences Accute, his Orations Eloquent, and his Phrase worthy of

Augustus's Age. As for his Orati∣ons, whether direct or oblique, they are all Excellent. Neither is he impertinent in Digressions, un∣less you will accuse his Description of India for one, which was really essential to his Design. Lastly, Al∣phonsus King of Arragon was reco∣vered from a dangerous fit of Sick∣ness by the diversion he took in the reading of this Author, which made him cry out, That he owed his Recovery neither to Hippocrates nor Avicenne, but only to Quintus Cur∣tius.

Qu. What account have you of Ta∣citus.

Ans. Cornelius Tacitus, Praefect of the Belgick Gauls under the Em∣perour Adrian, besides his Annals, (which reach from the Scene of Augustus, to the end of Nero's Reign, excepting his last twelve years,) wrote also an History, that extends from the Death of Nero,

to the Government of Nerva and Trajan; of which History, there are now extant but Five Books: And Lipsius, with reason, con∣jectures, that there are at least Ten more lost, in as much as they were all said to reach from Galba to Tra∣jan, which was the space of one and twenty years; whereof the five we have now left us, treat but of one whole year. His History is quoted in the eleventh of his An∣nals, whence we may conclude That to have been first written. Now, besides his Annals and Hi∣story, he wrote also a Treatise of Germany and its Inhabitants, with another Book of the Life of his Father in Law Agricola: Both which pieces are now extant. But for the other Tract of the corrup∣tion of Roman Eloquence, which some attribute to Tacitus, and others to Quintilian, 'tis thought by Lip∣sius and other Learned men to have

been written by neither. Now a∣mong these many Judicious per∣sons who extol this Author, Vossius (though he prefers the Eloquence of his History before that of his Annals,) yet allows him to be every where Grave and Elegant: Also Lipsius calls him, a sharp and pru∣dent Writer, and Imitator of Salust: Sidonius would have him never mention'd without Praise: But the Emperour Tacitus had so great a veneration for his Ancestor and Name-sake, that he made his Books be transcrib'd no less then ten times in one year, and caused his Statue to be erected in all publick Libra∣ries. Notwithstanding, he hath not been totally exempt from Censure: For Alciatus, rather out of Affecti∣on, than Reason, preferr'd his Friend Paulus Jovius before him; and Ferret, as well out of Igno∣rance, as Vanity, accuses Tacitus of writing ill Latine; However

Pliny the younger, magnifies his Eloquence therein. Also Vopiscus (only to justify his Assertion, that all Narrations are mixt with un∣truths,) accuses Tacitus of delive∣ring falsities, but gives no instance where. Likewise, Chrysostom and Tertullian bribed rather with Re∣ligion, than Judgment, accuse Ta∣citus as an Imposture, for that he derides the Christians, abuses the Miracles of Moses, and upbraids the Jews for their adoring the Effigies of an Ass, in the fifth Book of his History: Which, as coming from an Heathen, is not altogether so criminal; but rather to be con∣demn'd for a digression, than for an Impiety. Finally, he equals as well Thucydides, as Salust, in the number of his choice Sentences; out of which, the wisest Politicians have selected their most prudent Maxims of State.

Qu. What account have you of Lucius Florus?

Ans. Lucius Annaeus Florus (de∣scended from the Noble Annaean Family, and thereby allayed to the Senececaes) lived under the Empe∣rour Adrian; and composed an Epitomy of Roman History in four Books. Some question whether he was the same Author that annex'd the Arguments to Livy's History; but 'tis a great errour to imagine, that he ever design'd the Epitomy of all Livy's works, much less, that he should occasion the loss of any part of them. His stile is Poetical, using (like Virgil) Hemesticks in his Periods, and writes more like a Declamer than a Historian, which makes Sigonius brand him for im∣pertinent. His account of the Suns being seen to fall into the Ocean, and there heard with Horrour to extinguish its Beams in the Waves; (as mention'd in his Description of

Brutus his Sea Voyage,) also his Report of two Spirits in the shape of young men appearing in Rome near the Temple of Castor and Pol∣lux; (when he speaks of the de∣feat of Cimbri by Marius;) are things altogether incredible, and not fit to be inserted in History; as Scaliger, in his Comment on Euse∣bius, well observes. Yet notwith∣standing, Vossius allows him to be a Writer, that is both Elegant and Eloquent, and (except in some few places) truly Florid.

Qu. What account have you of Suetonius?

Ans. Caius Suetonius Tranquillus (whose Fathers name was Suetonius Lenis, as he himself testifies in the Life of Otho,) was Secretary of State to the Emperour Adrian, till being suspected of too great Fami∣liarity with the Empress Sabina, he was removed from that Employ. After which, he apply'd himself to

writing, and compos'd these seve∣ral Pices: To wit, The Lives of the Twelve first Roman Emperours, be∣ginning with Julius Caesar, and en∣ding with the death of Domitian, in the 98th. year of Christ, which piece is now extant: Together with other Tracts of the Illustrious Grammarians, Rhetoricians, and Poets, whereof at this day, only some Fragments remain; Besides, a Discourse of the Roman Games, a piece call'd, the Republick of Ci∣cero, and of the most Illustrious Fa∣milies of Rome, all which are pe∣rish'd in the ruines of time. Au∣sonius likewise tells us of another Book of Kings divided into three parts, Which (he saith) was written by Suetonius, and afterwards con∣tracted into a Poem by Pontius Pau∣linus. But for that Treatise of the Life of the Elder Pliny, which goes under the Name of Suetonius, it was certainly none of his; for the

great Intimacy betwixt our Author and the younger Pliny, would have produced a more Honourable Cha∣racter of his Friends Uncle, the Elder Pliny, than is there to be found, had Suetonius been the Writer of it. Some are of opini∣on that the beginning of his first Book of the twelve Caesars is wan∣ting, because there is no mention of the Birth and first years of Julius Caesar, as there is of the Original and Education of all the other Em∣perours, in the rest of their Lives As for the Censures that are passed upon Suetonius, they are chiefly two; the first, For his exclaiming against the turbulent Superstition of the Christians; And the second, for his Description of Vice in the Lives of Tiberius, Nero, and Caligula; whereof, if you will pardon him the first as an Heathen, I see not how he could avoid the other, as a Faithful and True Historian.

Nevertheless, Pliny calls him, A most Learned and Honest Author: Suidas, the famous Roman Gram∣marian: Vopiscus, a fair, Candid and Compendious writer: But Ludo∣vicus Vives saith, That of all the Greek and Latine Historians, He is the most pure and diligent, speaking Truth boldly. Nay, many prefer him before Livy, Salust or Tacitus: which Character, though Vossius will not assent to, yet doth he ap∣prove of those other Encomiums given him by Vopiscus and Vives. This Author was at first rendred into English by that Voluminous Translator Dr. Philemon Holland, which gave occasion for one mer∣rily dispos'd to break this quibling Jest upon him:

Philemon with Translations doth so fill us, He will not let Suetonius be Tranquillus.

Qu. What account have you of Justin?

Ans. Justin flourish'd under An∣tonius Pius, and abbreviated those forty four Books of the Ʋniversal History of two thousand years from Ninus to Augustus, which Trogus Pompejus had before composed un∣der the reign of Tiberius, and where∣of nothing but this Epitomy re∣mains; which, nevertheless, we find not to occasion the loss of the Original, as some imagine. Mar∣tin the Polander, as well as Munster, confound this Author with Justin the Martyr, making them one of the same, because they were Con∣temporaries; but without any colour of Reason, as appears by the Scurrilous Invective made by this Historian against the Jews, in his 36th. Book, which the Martyr would never have been guilty of. Now of this Author, as well his Method (wherein he follows his Original, even in the very number of Books) as his Stile, are both

highly commended. The seven first Books comprehend the Infancy of the World, or first Inhabitants thereof, beginning with the de∣scription of Kings, Places and Countries of the first Assyrian or Babylonish Monarchies; and from the seventh to the one and fortyeth Book, is a continued Series of the Empire of Macedon, beginning with Philip, the Father of Alex∣ander the Great. He used no di∣rect Orations, for that had rendred him guilty of the same errour, which Trogus himself condemned in Livy and Salust. Yet nevertheless, Ju∣stin is accused of some Digressions, as in the beginning of his second Book, where the Scythians and Egyptians have a long tedious de∣bate in preference of each others Antiquity: And likewise in the twentieth Book, concerning the Birth, Travels, Virtue and Death of Pythagoras. Again, Pererius

in his Comment upon Daniel, hath convinc'd Justin of many errours concerning the Jews: And Vopiscus accuses him of Falsity. But that wherein he seems most of all inex∣cusable, is his false Chronology, which is wholly attributed to the Abbre∣viator.

Qu. What account have you of Ammianus Marcellinus?

Ans. Ammianus Marcellinus, a Graecian and Citizen of Antioch, flourished chiefly under the Em∣perours Gratian and Valentinian, holding in his youth divers consi∣derable Offices of the Militia, par∣ticularly, one of the Guard du Corps, besides many other eminent Employs, in all which, he acquitted himself with much Honour. He wrote an History which extends from the beginning of Nerva, to the death of Valens, in one and thirty Books: whereof, the first thirteen being lost, the other eigh∣teen

only remain; and those (too) full of Imperfection. As well his Military Profession, as Greek Birth, do both contribute to the Rough∣ness of his Stile; and for the same Reasons ought to be pardon'd. No other Historian so well informs us of the Antiquities and Originals of the Gauls, Germans and Burgun∣dians, as he doth; neither hath any Heathen Author written less reflectingly on the Christians, not∣withstanding the excessive Praises he attributes to Julian, which were but his due in respect of Moral Vir∣tues: For which reason, as well as for his sincerity, and presenting us with things no where else to be met with, he is duly esteem'd of by all Learned men. Yet, nevertheless, some just exceptions may be taken against him; when, instead of an Historian, he plays the Philosopher, and runs away from his Subject: As in the seventh Book, where he

quits Julian at Paris, to Speculate the nature of Earth-quakes: Also, in the beginning of his twentieth Book, where leaving Constantius to prepare against the Persians, he falls enquiring into the nature of Eclipse; and presents his Reader with a Lecture of Astronomy in∣stead of History: And again, in his thirtieth Book, where he leaves Valentinian at Tryers, whilst he pre∣sents you with an Invective against Lawyers. Also Marcellinus is by Causine accused of his too many Poetical Descriptions throughout the whole Body of his Writings. But notwithstanding all these Cen∣sures, he is allow'd of by Vossius, To be a Grave and Serious Writer, worthy to be beloved by all men.